Multiple key.



G. B. BEACH.

MULTIPLE KEY.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 12, 1910.

Patented Apr. 14, 1914.

I K Jill g! COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

CLARENCE E. BEACH, E EINGHAMTO NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE o. KNAPIP, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MULTIPLE KEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 14, 1914.

Application filed September 12, 1910. Serial No. 581,610.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CLARENCE E. BEACH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Binghamton, in the county of Broome and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Multiple Keys, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a key intended to control a plurality of signal circuits and arranged to apply one battery to each of such circuits, one after another.

The key as shown is arranged to control a series of circuits, such as signaling circuits, and is provided with double pole equipment so that when the battery is not being applied to any given circuit both sides of the battery are disconnected therefrom.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view; Fig. 2 is a sectional end elevation on the plane 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the plane 3-3 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing certain switch mechanism.

The mechanism is mounted upon the base .i which carries the posts B, and B, in which the shaft G is trunnioned. The key lever D is carried upon and moves with the shaft C, said lever D being provided at its free end with the handle E and having an adjusting screw F for limiting its downward movement. The arms G, and G, are mounted upon and rigidly connected to the shaft- (1 and carry the insulating strips I, and I, The contact points H, and H, are mounted in the insulating strips I, and I, respectively and the switch arms J, and J, having spring contacts 41 are mounted upon pivots carried by said insulating strips I, and I, respectively. The poles of a suitable battery should be connected to the switch arms J and J. Said switch arms J, and J, are so designed as to rest upon the contacts H, and H, respectively when said switch arms are in a certain position, and to be disconnected from said contacts when the switch arms are in another position. Posts K, and K, are supplied in suitable relation to the switch arms J, and J, respectively, said posts be ing provided with the pins L,. L,, L,, L, respectively.

Projections M, and M, are provided on the switch arms J, and J, respectively, the projection M, extending past the post K,

so that when the lever D a nd between the pins L,, L,, on the post. K

is in the position shown in Fig. 2, said projection lVI, will. be in engagement with the lower pin L, and thereby hold the switch arm J, away from the contact H, and so that when the lever D is depressed until its motion is arrested by the adjusting screw F, said projection M, will have been brought into engagement with the upper pin L, and thereby have moved the switch arm J, to the position where it rests upon the contact II,. The switch arm J, and its projection M, cooperate in the same way with pins L,, L,, on the post K,. rtn insulating bar N is carried between the free ends of the arms G, and G, and upon said insulating bar are mounted the conducting strips 0, and O, which are connected to the switch contacts H, and II, respectively by means of the wires P, and P, Stepped insiiilating blocks Q, on the left-hand side of the base in Figs. 1 and 2, support contact springs 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, and 3 on the middle step; and contact springs 11, 12, 18, 11 12 and 13, on the upper step. In Fig. 1, one of the springs on the upper step is broken to expose the lower spring 1. In Fig. 2, spring 13 on the upper step, and spring 3 on the middle step, are shown. The contact springs 1, 2 and 8 are connected with one side of each of three signaling circuits and the contact springs 1 2 and 8 are connected to the opposite ends of said respective circuits, the tendency of the free end of each of said springs being to move upward or away from the insulating block Q, upon which said springs are mounted.

In the free end of each of the springs 1, 2, 3, 1. 2 and 3 isprovided an adjustable screw R carrying the contact point S. Another adjustable screw T is provided in the insulating block Q. located in the path of the adjustable screws R and forming a limit to the downward travel of the springs carrying said adjustable screws A stud U is provided in suitable relation to each one of the springs 1, 2, 3, 1, 2 and 3" and lock nuts V are provided for each of said studs, whereby the upward travel. of the springs 1, 2, 3, 1, 2 and 3 may be separately adjusted and limited.

Contact pins IV, and W, are provided in the insulating bar N, said contact pins IV, being connected to the contact strip 0, and contact pins IV, are connected to the contact strip Contact springs 11, 12 and 13 with their cooperating parts constitute a series of controlling switches, and these springs are mounted upon the insulating block Q, in such manner that they tend to normally rest upon the contact points S 1 l l l a i l of the adjustable screws R- carried by the springs 1, 2 and 3 respectively and the free ends of said springs 11, 12 and 13 extend 9 arms are brought against the upper pins L,

in the path of the contact points said springs being so formed that, when they are being supported by the contact points S car ried by the springs l, 2 and 3, a very slight i downward travel of the lever D will raise the insulating bar N enough to bring one of the pins XV, into contact with the free end of the spring 13 and so that it will require further upward travel of the insulating bar N to bring another one of the points YV, into contact with the spring 12 and still further upward travel of the insulating bar N to bring the remaining point 1V, into contact with the spring 11. The springs 11, 12 and 13 like springs 11, 12 and 13, with their cooperating parts, constitute a second series of controlling switches, and these springs normally rest in like manner upon the contact points carried by the springs 1, 2 and 3 respectively, the free ends of said springs 11, 12 and 13 being in the path of the points iv, and so formed that when the lever D is depressed, one of the points 1V, will be brought in contact with the spring 13 when the lever D has reached the point in its travel which brings one of the points against the spring 13, a similar relation being maintained between the springs 12 and 12 and the springs 11 and 11 and their respective contact points. An extension is provided from the lever D, carrying a piston 5 arranged to work in the cylinder (3 carried by the base plate A, a spring 7 being so applied to said extension 1 as to tend to return the lever D to its normal position after said lever has been depressed by means of the handle E. The strength of the lower springs 1, 2, 3, l, 2 and 3 is so proportioned to the strength of the upper springs 11, 12, 13, 11, 12 and 18 that when one of said upper springs is resting upon the contact point of the spring below it, the downward. pressure of said upper spring will overcome the upward pressure of its lower spring and move said lower spring down as far as the adjustable screw T will permit it to travel. The adjustments of the various parts of this key are such that when the handle E has been depressed as far as it will go, the upper contact springs 11, 12, 13, 11., 12 and 13 will be resting upon their respective contact points 1V, and W, and will have been raised off from the contact points S carried by the tree ends of the lower springs 1, 2, 8, 1, 2 and 3, but during the raising of the insulating bar N, resulting from a depression of the handle E, no electrical connection will be made between the battery connected to the switch. arms J and J, and the circuits connected with the contact springs 1, 2, 3, 1, 2 and 3 because said switch arms J, and J, would not be resting upon the contacts H, and H, during the downward travel of the handle E until the projections Id, and M, from said switch and L, respectively.

The position of the lock nuts V upon the studs U will prevent the contact springs 1., 2, 3, 1, 2 and 3' from following their contact springs 11, 12, 13, 11, 12 and 13 to the position said upper springs will occupy when the handle E has been depressed to a point where the projections M, and M, will be brought into engagement with their respective upper pins L, and L,.

The depression of the lever D, until its motion is arrested by the adjusting screw 1* striking against the base A, will raise the arms G, and G, to a position where the engagement oi? the projections U, and M, with their respective pins L, and L, will have lI'OYGCl the switch arms J and J, into contact with the points H, and H, and thereby provide a connection from the terminals of the battery which are connected with the switch arms J, and J, to the contact strips 0, and 0, respectively. It now the lever D is released, the pressure of the upper springs 11, 12, 13, 11, 12, and 13 upon the points V, and iv, supplemented by the action of the spring 7 will cause the free ends of the arms G, and G, to be moved toward the base A as rapidly as the retarding action of the piston in the cylinder (3 will permit, and during such downward travel of the free ends of the arms Gr, and G,, the battery connected with the switches J, and J, will be first applied to the circuit connected with the contact springs 1 and 1, then disconnected theretron'i and connected to the circuit represented by the springs 2 and 2, then disconnected therefrom and connected to the circuit represented by the springs 3 and 3 and then disconnected from the contact strips 0, and 0, when the switch arms J, and J, are moved ofi from the contacts H, and H, respectively, because of the projections M, and M, engaging with the lower pins L, and L, respectively.

The dash pot formed by the piston and the cylinder 6 is of the usual construction and forms no part of this invention and is merely shown as a convenient retarding means for the return action of the lever D after it has been depressed and a clockwork or any other convenient means oi permitting the lever D to be quickly depressed and causing it to be retarded in returning to its normal positi on after release may be substituted for this dash pot without departing from this invention.

The operation of the various parts, after the lever D has been depressed, and while it is being returned to its normal position, is as follows: After the lever D has traveled a short distance in returning to its normal position, the spring 11 will rest upon the contact point S carried by the spring 1 and the spring 11 will rest upon the contact point S carried by the spring 1 thus establishing an electrical connection from the battery through switch J contact H wire P strip 0,, contact spring 11, contact S to spring 1, to a circuit, thence through such circuit to spring 1 and its contact point S in the free end of said spring to spring 11*, thence through one of the points W to contact strip 0 through wire P contact H to switch arm J 2 and other side of the battery circuit. Until forced down by the action of its corresponding spring, the contact springs 1. 3, 1 2 and 3 rest against the under side of their respective lock nuts V leaving some space between the adjustable screws R and T. It will thus be seen that after the springs 11 and 11 have been permitted, by the fall of the insulating bar N, to reach a position where said springs rest upon the contact points S of the springs 1 and 1 respectively said spring 11 will be in simultaneous contact with one of the points 1V, and with the point S carried by the spring 1 and the spring 11 will be in simultaneous contact with one of the points 1V, and with the point S carried by the spring 1 until the downward motion of the springs 11 and 11 is arrested by the screws R carried by the springs 1 and 1, coming in contact with the screws T provided therefor in the insulating block Q, when the continued travel of the insulating bar N will carry the points and W away from the springs 11 and 1.1 and thus disconnect the battery from the circuit with the springs 1 and 1. After the contacts W and V, have ceased to be in contact with springs 11 and 11, the continued downward. motion of the insulating bar N will permit the springs 12 and 12 to descend until they rest upon the contacts S carried by the springs 2 and 2 respectively, when the action will be repeated which has just been described in relation to the springs 11 and 11. After the points 1V, and have moved away from the springs 12 and 12, the same action will be repeated with relation to the springs 13 and 13 It is evldent that the number of springs represented upon such a multiplekey as has just been described may be increased to any I desired number so long as the travel of the part corresponding with the bar N is rela tively increased. It is also evident that the adjustment of the key can be altered so that the application of the battery to one circuit Wlll commence just before or at the time it ceases to be applied to the preceding circuit. It is also apparent that by a different arrangement of contact springs, a large number of circuits could be controlled, applying the battery successively to several groups of circuits and having several circuits in each group. For instance, if there were twenty circuits, the battery could be first applied to circuits 1 to 1, then to circuits 5 to 8, then 9 to 12, etc., each group of circuits being connected in multiple only during the instant the battery was being applied to them, so that any fault which might develop upon any one of the circuits when a signal was not in course of transmission, would not affect any of the other circuits.

The device is capable of use without the retarding mechanism, in which event it is necessary that the person using the key retard it during recovery after having been depressed, so that sufficient time will be allowed for the magnetically controlled devices in the respective circuits to respond to the electrical impulse sent through them. It is also evident that this form of key could be so arranged that several sets of batteries could be simultaneously controlled, one set of batteries being applied to certain circuits, one after another; another set of batteries being applied to another set of circuits, one after another.

I claim 1. A multiple key having a series of circuit contacts, a corresponding series of cur rent supply contacts, said circuit contacts arranged at successively different distances from said current supply contacts, and reciprocating means for moving said current supply contacts into engagement with said circuit contacts.

2. A multiple :ey having a series of circuit contacts, a. corresponding series of current supply contacts. said circuit contacts ar ranged at successively different distances from said current supply contacts, and

means for recipro 'nting said current supply contacts.

3. A multiple key having a series of circuitcontacts, a corresponding series of current supply contacts, said circuit contacts arranged at successively different distances from said current supply contacts, means for reciprocating said current supply contacts. a current supply terminal, a switch for controlling the connection of said terminal with said current supply contacts, and means controlled by said reciprocating means for operating said switch.

4-. A multiple key having a series of circuit contacts, a corresponding series of current supply contacts, said circuit contacts ar ranged at successively different distances from said current supply contacts, a current supply terminal, a switch for controlling the connection of said terminal with said current supply contacts, means for connecting said circuit contacts and said current supply contacts, and means for operating said switch.

A multiple key having a series of circuit terminal springs, a corresponding series or circuit-controlling springs normally in engagen'ient therewith, said circuit controlling springs having their ends arranged at different levels, a bar having battery-terminal connections thereon arranged to engage the circuit-controlling springs, and means for reciprocating the bar.

G. A multiple key having a series of springs, a contact on each of said springs, means for limiting the upward movement of said springs, a second series of springs, a contact on each of said second named springs cooperating with the contact of the corresponding first named spring, a second contact on each of said second named springs, a bar, current supply contacts on said bar, said current supply contacts arranged at dill'erent distances from said second contacts, and means for reciprocating said bar.

7. A multiple key having a series of springs, a contact on each of said springs, means for limiting the upward movement of said springs, a second series of springs, a contact on each of said second named springs cooperating with the contact of the corresponding first named spring, a second contact on each of said second named springs, a bar, current supply contacts on said bar, said current supply contacts arranged at ditierent distances from said second contacts, means for reciprocating said bar, and means for retarding the movement of said bar in one direction.

8. A multiple key having a series of circuit terminals, a corresponding series of spring mounted contacts, means for limiting the movement of said contacts, a corresponding series of current supply contacts, a corresponding series of springs, two contacts on each of said springs, one or said two contacts located in the nth of the corres omlin D spring mounted contact, the other of said two contacts located in the path of the corresponding current supply contact, said other contacts arranged at successively different distances from said current supply contacts, and means for reciprocating said current supply contacts.

9. A multiple key having a series of circuit contacts, a corresponding series of current supply contacts, said circuit contacts arranged at succes ively different distances from said current supply contacts. means :t'or reciprocating said current supply contacts, a current supply terminal, a switch for controlling the connection of said terminal with said current supply contacts, in ans for opening said switch at one extreme of the movement o F said recll'n'ocatlng means, and means for closing said switch at the other extreme of the said reciprocating means.

10. In a circuit controlling mechanism, the combination of circuit contacts, a contact spring associated with each contact and normally in electrical engagement therewith, a key, a. contact on said key for each contact spring, said key contacts being electrically disconnected from said contact springs when the key is in normal position, said contact springs being arranged at different distances from said key contacts, a circuit conductor for said key contacts, switch mechanism controlled by the key movement, said switch mechanism being normally in position to open the circuit conductor "for the key contacts, said switch mechanism being arranged to keep this conductor open during movement of the key to alternate position, and means to a ctu ate said switch mechanism to close said conductor when the key reaches its alternate position.

11. In circuit-controlling mechanism, the combination of circuit contacts, a coi'itact spring for each contact normally in engagement therewith, a key having a contact for association with each contact spring, a circuit conductor leading from said key contacts, the ends of said contact springs being at successive levels over said key contacts and disconnected therefrom when the key is in normal position, switch mechanism controlled by the movement of the key to norlnal position to open said key contact conductor and to keep said conductor open while the key is moved to an alternate position, movement 01 said key to alternate position causing the contact springs to be engaged in succession by the key contacts to be thereby disengaged in succession from said terminal contacts, said switch mechanism being automatically moved at the end of the key movement to close the key contact conductor.

12. A multiple key having a series of eircuit terminal. springs, a corresponding ries of circuit-controlling springs ntnrmally in engagement therewith, a correspomling series of current supply terminal connections, said current supply terminal connections arranged at successively (littering distances from said. circuit-controlling springs, and means for reciprocating said current supply terminal connections.

13. A. multiple key having a series of circuit terminal springs, a corresponding series of circuit-controlling springs normally in engagement therewith, a corresponding series of current supply terminal connections, said. current supply terminal connections arranged at succesively dillcring distances from said circuit controlling springs, means for reciprocating said. current supply terminal. connections, and means for retarding said reciproca tion in one direction.

D'IOVGIB (311i? Of 14. In a. switch mechanism, the combination of a contact forming one terminal of a circuit to be controlled, a contact spring normally engaging said contact, a key having a contact for said spring, actuation of said key causing engagement of the key contact with said spring and disengagement of the spring from said terminal contact, and .switch mechanism automatically actuated upon movement of the key to connect the other terminal of said circuit with said key contact only during return movement of said key, said spring having simultaneous engagement with said terminal contact and key contact during such return movement of the key.

15. In a circuit-controlling mechanism, the combination of a contact forming one terminal of a circuit to be controlled, a key having a contact for connection with the other terminal of said circuit, an intermediate contact spring normally engaged with said terminal contact but disengaged from said key contact, there being a period of simultaneous engagement of said spring with both contacts during actuating and re turn movement of said key, and switch mechanism automatically controlled by the key movement to connect said other circuit terminal with the key contact only when the key has been actuated and during return movement thereof and to disconnect said other terminal from the key contact as soon as the key has been restored.

16. A multiple key having a series of springs, two contacts on each of said springs, a corresponding series of circuit terminal springs, a contact on each of said terminal springs in the path of one of said two coir tacts, means for limiting the movement of each terminal spring, a bar, a series of current supply contacts mounted on said bar in the path of the other of said two contacts, said current supply contacts arranged at successively different distances from said other contacts, and means for reciprocating said bar.

17. A multiple key having a series of springs, two contacts on each of said springs, a corresponding series of circuit terminal springs, a contact on each of said terminal springs in the path of one of said two contacts, means for limiting the movement of each terminal spring, a bar, a series of contacts mounted on said bar in the path of the other of said two contacts, said bar-mounted contacts arranged at successively different distances from said other contacts, means for reciprocating said bar, means for connecting a current supply terminal to said barmounted contacts at one extreme of their movement, and means for disconnecting said current supply terminal at the other extreme of their movement.

18. A multiple key having a series of contacts, a second series of contacts adapted to engage therewith, means for moving the contacts of the first series toward or away from the contacts of the second series, means tending to move the contacts of the second series toward the contacts of the first series, a series of stops cooperating with the contacts of the second series, and means constructed and arranged to stop the contacts of the second series at varying distances from the contacts of the first series when the contacts of said first and second series are not in engagement with each other.

19. A multiple key having a series of contracts, a second series of contacts adapted to engage therewith, means for moving the contacts of the first series toward or away from the contacts of the second series, means tending to move the contacts of the second series toward the contacts of the first series, a third series of contacts cooperating with the contacts of the second series, and said third series of contacts arranged to stop the contacts of the second series at varying distances from the contacts of the first series when the contacts of said first and second series are not in engagement with each other,

20. A multiple key having a plurality of circuit terminals, contacts therefor, a corresponding plurality of current supply contacts, said current supply contacts arranged at varying distances from said circuit contacts, reciprocating means for bringing said circuit contacts into engagement with said current supply contacts, a current supply terminal, a switch for said terminal, means for opening said switch at one extreme of the movement of said reciprocating means, and means for closing said switch at the other extreme of the movement of said reciprocating means.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CLARENCE E. BEACH.

Witnesses:

FLORENCE M. SMITH, H. W. DOUGHTY.

Copies 01' this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

